Liofilchem® Baird Parker Agar Base

The Liofilchem® Baird Parker Agar Base is a selective medium specifically designed for the isolation, detection, and enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci, such as Staphylococcus aureus, from food, water, and animal feed. It adheres to international standards, including ISO 6888, FDA-BAM, and APHA guidelines, making it a reliable medium for microbiological analysis.

This medium is supplied in both dehydrated and ready-to-use forms, with options for enrichment and supplement additives to enhance its selectivity and diagnostic capabilities.

Key Features

1. Selective and Enrichment Capabilities:
   • Incorporates lithium chloride and a high concentration of glycine to inhibit unwanted microflora while promoting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus.
   • Optional supplements (e.g., Egg Yolk Tellurite Emulsion, Sulfamethazine, RPF Supplement) enhance diagnostic accuracy and inhibit competing organisms such as Proteus spp.
2. Versatility:
   • Supports direct enumeration and Most Probable Number (MPN) techniques.
   • Adaptable for various sample types, including food, animal feed, and water.
3. Compliant with International Standards:
   • Meets ISO 6888 specifications and other globally recognized standards.
4. Highly Diagnostic:
   • Typical S. aureus colonies appear black or grey, shiny, and convex with characteristic halo zones, facilitating easy identification.
5. Durable Shelf Life:
   • Dehydrated medium has a shelf life of 4 years, while the prepared medium lasts for 2 years under proper storage conditions.

Typical Formula

Applications

1. Food and Beverage Microbiology:
   • Detection and enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus in processed food, raw materials, and water.
2. Animal Feed Testing:
   • Isolation of staphylococci from animal feed for safety assessments.
3. ISO 6888 Compliance Testing:
   • Suitable for labs performing microbiological analyses according to ISO and FDA standards.
4. Diagnostic Testing:
   • Identification and differentiation of coagulase-positive staphylococci in clinical or research settings.

Preparation Instructions

1. For Dehydrated Medium:
   • Suspend 60 g of powder in 1 liter of distilled or deionized water.
   • Mix well, heat to boiling, and sterilize in an autoclave at 121°C for 15 minutes.
2. For Ready-to-Use Bottles:
   • Melt the medium content in a water bath at 100°C. Partially unscrew the cap during heating, then mix to ensure homogeneity.
3. Supplement Addition:
   • Add supplements aseptically to the base medium at 45-50°C to enhance selectivity:
     • Egg Yolk Tellurite Emulsion for lecithinase activity detection.
     • Sulfamethazine Supplement to suppress Proteus spp. growth.
     • RPF Supplement for coagulase reaction confirmation.

Interpretation of Results

• Typical Colonies:
  • Black or grey, shiny, convex colonies with halo zones indicating lecithinase activity.
• Atypical Colonies:
  • Black or grey colonies without halo zones, primarily found in dairy products.
• Non-Staphylococcal Growth:
  • Sparse white to brown colonies with no clearing.

Confirmatory Test:

• Perform a Coagulase Test for definitive identification of Staphylococcus aureus.

Quality Control

Storage

• Dehydrated Medium: Store at 10-30°C in a dry environment, tightly sealed.
• Prepared Medium: Store at 10-25°C away from light.

Shelf Life

• Dehydrated Medium: 4 years.
• Prepared Bottles: 2 years.

Advantages

1. Reliability:
   • Robust selectivity ensures high accuracy in isolating S. aureus.
2. Flexibility:
   • Can be supplemented for additional diagnostic capabilities.
3. Ease of Use:
   • Available in both dehydrated and ready-to-use formats.

Available Formats

The Liofilchem® Baird Parker Agar Base is a reliable and versatile medium for isolating and enumerating Staphylococcus aureus in food, feed, and water samples. Its compliance with international standards, coupled with optional supplements for enhanced functionality, makes it an essential tool for microbiological testing in food safety and quality control laboratories.